An imidazolium-based phosphinite ionic liquid (IL-OPPh2) as a reusable reaction medium and PdII ligand in Heck reactions of aryl halides with styrene and n-butyl acrylate

A new imidazolium-based phosphinite ionic liquid (IL-OPPh2) is reported as an effective reusable medium and suitable Pd-II ligand for C-C bond formation through Heck coupling reactions of aryl iodides, bromides and also chlorides with styrene and n-butyl acrylate. The ionic liquid, still containing its corresponding Pd-II complex, was easily recovered and reused in several runs without losing its efficiency. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007).